Geoege s



(N0 Model.)

v G. s. HILL. BUTTON HOLE PIECE FOR BUTTON BOOTS. No. 360,590. PatentedApr. 5, 1887.

I I v I r I N, PETERS. Photo-Ulhugraphar. Washingh). D. C. v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. HILL, OF LYNN, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN REEOE, OF BOSTON, MASS.

BUTTON-HOLE PIECE FOR BUTTON-BOOTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,590, dated April 5,1887.

Application filed February 3, 1887. Serial No. 226,305. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. HILL, of Lynn, county of Essex, and Stateof Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Button-Hole Piecesfor-Bntton-Boots, of which the following description, in connection withthe accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on thedrawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to improve button-boots, andespecially that part thereof known as the button-hole piece, in orderthat the latter may be materially strengthened and finished in superiormanner.

Button-holes in button-hole pieces for shoework are commonly stitched orbound over their edge in a sewing-machine, two threads being used, onebeing carried by an eye-pointed needle above the material and the otherby an under-thread carrier of some sort; and it is customary to lay athird thread, called a bar-thread, about the edge of the buttonhole, soas to be covered by the stitching of the other two threads referred to.WVhcn one button-hole has been stitched, the button-hole piece is movedforward by hand, bringing another bntionhole in position underthestitching mechanism to be stitched, and during this operation theunder thread above referred to, as well as the barthread, is leftextended from one to the next button-hole. So, also, in stitchingbutton-holes by machinery, the small end of the button-hole has usuallyleft projecting from ittwo ends, they coming from the needle-thread usedin the manufacture of the button-hole. These free ends, as well as thethreads extending from one to the next button-hole, are sometimes cutoff, and the small end of the buton-hole is completed by a handneedle.In some instances the threads connecting adjacent button holes have beenwhipped over and caught down to the material of the button-hole piece bya thread carried by a hand-operated needle.

In accordance with my invention, the pro jeeting ends of thread referredto, as well as the threads extended from one to the next button-hole,are brought together or laid parallel and are inclosed by stitching, thestitching being done on an independent machine and by an independentoperation, the stitching consisting of three threads, two of which arecarried by eye-pointed needles held in one needle-bar, the loops ofthread drawn out from the eye-pointed needle below the material and at apoint below the said assembled threads being united by means of a thirdthread taken from a shuttle or bobbin, in accordance with either theSinger or XVheelerv 80 Wilson systems of sewing; or it may be by anyother equivalent threadcarrier.

My invention consists, essentially, in a but ton-hole piece containing aseries of buttonholes, the ends of which are connected by two rows ofstitches, the loops of which below the material cooperate with a thirdthread to in close not only the free ends of the threads used tooverstitch the edges of the button-hole and left projecting from thesmall end of the but ton-hole, but also to cover and inclose the underthread and bar-thread between adjacent button holes, substantially aswill be described.

Figure 1, in elevation, shows a bntton-boot having a button hole pieceembodying my in vention. Fig. 2 shows the under side of a button-holepiece, five of the button-holes being finished, while the remainingbutton-holes are but partially finished. Fig. 3, enlarged, representstwo button-holes with the threads used for over-stitching, the free endsof the needle-thread being distended, the said figure also showingplainly the bar'thread and the under thread as extended from one to theother button-hole; and Fig. 4 represents the parts shown in Fig. 3, withthe free ends of the needle-thread brought together and inclosed bystitching composed of three independent threads, two from twoeye-pointed needles and one from a shuttle-bobbin or other usualunder-thread carrier.

The buttonhole piece A is and may be of usual material and shape. Thisbutton-hole piece has, as herein shown, (see Fig. 2,) seven buttonholes,numbered, respectively, from 1 to 7.

Each button-hole has its edge overstitched by the employment of twothreadsone, it, carried by an eye-pointed needle, and the other, 8,carried by ashuttle or under-thread carrier. A bar-thread, b, is laidabout the edges of the button-hole, so as to be covered by theoverstitching, the said bar-thread, as well as the under thread, beingleft extended between one i and the next button-hole by moving thebutton-hole piece sufficiently to bring one and then the nextbutton-hole in position in connection with the stitching mechanism to bestitched.

Usually the small end of the button-hole at the under side of thebutton-hole piece has projecting from it two free ends, they being partsof the needlethread it. To avoid cutting off these free ends, and alsothe threads extended from one to the next button-hole, I have devised aplan by which I am enabled to inclose the said free ends, as well as theunder thread and the bar-thread extended from one to the nextbutton-hole,within machine-stitching. This stitching referred to is madein two rows, as at 15 16, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) the threads of each ofthe two rows being carried by an eye-pointed needle. The two eye-pointedneedles carried by one needle-bar pass through the material, one at eachside of the assembled ends a and the under thread and the barthreadconnecting the two button-holes, and when below .the material the loopsof thread drawn out from the eyes of the two eye-poin ted needles areunited by a thirdthread,13,carried by a shuttle or bobbin or taken fromother suitable thread-carrier. The two rows of stitching 15 16, formedas described, and ap- 0 pearing at the outside of the button-hole piece,as shown, connect the inner ends of the button-holes, and with the underthread, 13,

I form part of the stitching to inclose and whip down the loose ends andother threads referred to at the under side of the button-hole piece.The double row of stitching 15 16 also acts to strengthen thebutton-hole piece and to form a finish or ornament for the same, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2.

' Mechanism by which to form the two rows of stitching 15 16 and gatherthe threads at the under side of the material in one continu ous line tobe inclosed in stitching is represented in application Serial No.226,394, filed hole, but also to cover and inclose the under thread, 8,and bar-thread, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofl have signed my na me to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE S. HILL. lVitnesses:

GnoJV. Gnnconr, F. CUTTER.

